The Committee took evidence from the following witnesses: Joe Stewart, Director of Human Resources, and Michael Cox, Deputy Director of Human Resources, PSNI. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Mr Paul Girvan joined the meeting at 10.20am.Mr Adrian McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.25am.Ms Judith Cochrane joined the meeting at 10.25am.

Agreed: that the Hansard record of the evidence session will be examined to identify any issues on which the Committee may wish to seek legal advice.

5. Pre-draft Budget Scrutiny – Legal Advice

This item was deferred for consideration from Matters Arising.

Agreed: to formally request legal advice from Assembly Legal Services on the feasibility of legislating to provide for a statutory process which would enhance the Assembly’s financial scrutiny, in particular at pre-draft Budget stage.

The Committee took evidence from the following witnesses: Bob Stronge, Chief Executive, Advice NI and John Little, Vanguard Method Systems Thinking lead practitioner. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

Mr William Humphrey joined the meeting at 10.54am.

Agreed: that Committee staff will draft terms of reference for a possible Committee inquiry on systems thinking.

Mr William Humphrey left the meeting at 11.18am.

7. Correspondence

Mr William Humphrey joined the meeting at 11.20am.

Members noted the following items of correspondence:

Committee for Employment and Learning: Funding for thematic officers in Brussels; Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP as requested.

Jim Allister QC MLA: Consultation paper for Private Member’s Bill on Special Advisers; Agreed: Members will consider responding to the consultation individually.

NI Ombudsman: Role of Ombudsman in Procurement Complaints; Agreed: to forward the correspondence to Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) for comment on the Ombudsman’s role, and whether it is appropriate for CPD to signpost complaints to the Ombudsman. The Committee may consider an oral briefing on the issue from the Ombudsman at a later stage.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau: CPD complaint; Agreed: to request clarification from CPD of the specific points that will be taken on board in the future revision of relevant guidance notes.

Assembly Research: Briefing notes on the NI Economic Conference and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Conference;

DFP: EU Division follow-up response; Agreed: to write to DFP requesting details on the formal line management structures in respect of the Special EU Programmes Body. The Committee also agreed to forward the follow-up response to the committees for: the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister; Enterprise, Trade and Investment; Health, Social Services and Public Safety; and Social Development.

Correspondence from member of the public regarding Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) HR issues; Agreed: to request confirmation of whether the current NICS disciplinary procedures provide for a fair hearing, taking account of European Court of Human Rights judgements and, if not, why this is the case.